Chapter 53 Engagement Banquet (Part 3) Believe me, tonight is your last...
Lin Yulan was unfazed by his coldness. She took a sip of her wine and casually glanced at her daughter and Zhou Xubai, who were toasting. Her tone softened, but carried an undeniable weight as she got to the point: "I saw you. You were looking at Weiwei. I know you're doing very well and are very successful. It's truly remarkable for a young person to have such achievements."
She paused, her gaze refocusing on Gu Qingyan's face, a knowing air and a subtle pressure emanating from her: "You may not understand now, but perhaps in ten or eight years, when you yourself are a parent, you will truly understand. Parents exhaust their efforts simply to give their children the best and most secure things. For Weiwei," she emphasized, her gaze sweeping over Zhou Xubai, "Xubai is the best and most secure choice. What he can give Weiwei is something you might be able to give now, but you can't guarantee its longevity and stability."
She leaned forward slightly, lowering her voice, but each word was clear, carrying an almost warning tone: "Gu Qingyan, you made Weiwei very unhappy. If you still have even a shred of her in your heart, if you really want to see her happy, then tonight, please be a quiet bystander and do nothing inappropriate that would embarrass or trouble her. That would be the last bit of kindness you can show her."
Gu Qingyan listened quietly, the cold politeness on his face gradually disappearing, replaced by a deep sarcasm. A cold smile slowly curved his lips, his eyes devoid of any laughter: "Mrs. Lin," his voice was not loud, but his tone was icy cold: "So many years have passed, and you really are still the same as always... not understanding your own daughter."
Lin Yulan's expression changed slightly.
Gu Qingyan continued, her tone calm yet sharp and penetrating: "To love someone is not to confine her in what you consider the 'best' golden cage, but to give her freedom, respect her choices, even if those choices seem risky to you, and give her what she truly wants, instead of forcing what you think is good on her. Are you sure that what you're giving her is truly the 'happiness' she desires?"
His words were like a needle, instantly piercing the seemingly harmonious but actually estranged relationship between Lin Yulan and her daughter that had been strained for years due to overprotection and expectations. They also struck at the deepest part of her heart, a desire for control and uncertainty that she herself might not even be willing to admit.
Lin Yulan's well-maintained face darkened completely, her tone hardening and cold, filled with offended anger: "I am her mother! I carried her for ten months, gave birth to her, and raised her alone. Of course, I know better than anyone what is best for her! You, an outsider, what right do you have to interfere in my family affairs and my parenting methods? You..."
"Excuse me, Mrs. Lin." Gu Qingyan rose from his seat before she could finish speaking, gave a slight bow, and said in a cold tone, maintaining the last vestige of courtesy, "Thank you for your 'reminder'." After saying that, he turned and left without looking at Lin Yulan's unpleasant expression, leaving behind a cold and resolute back view.
This brief conversation did not make him back down; on the contrary, it was like a raging fire thrown into dry wood, further igniting and solidifying a certain crazy idea in his heart. He had to ask Lin Yuwei himself whether the "best" destination that was carefully arranged and envied by everyone was truly her choice without any regrets.
The banquet atmosphere grew increasingly lively, with a constant flow of people moving about.
Lin Yuwei wore an impeccable smile as she moved among the guests, accepting all sorts of blessings, trying to suppress the turmoil in her heart caused by her brief confrontation with Qi Xueqing.
In a brief moment between the clinking of glasses and the gentle movement of the crowd, her wrist was unexpectedly grasped by a familiar, warm hand with an irresistible force.
Gu Qingyan had silently approached her like a shadow, the distance between them instantly closing to the point where they could feel each other's rapid, tense breaths. He gave her no room to dodge or feign, his deep, hoarse voice, carrying an extreme, almost shattering pain and a desperate urgency, pierced her eardrums precisely: "Lin Yuwei, look me in the eyes." His voice was like a taut string, carrying a commanding despair: "Answer me! Put aside everything others think is 'good' or 'right,' just ask yourself! Are you truly happy? Is this the final outcome you wanted?"
Lin Yuwei's steps abruptly halted, as if nailed to the spot. Instead of immediately panicking and struggling to break free, she turned around very slowly, with an almost cold mockery, amidst the surrounding noise. She raised her eyes and met Gu Qingyan's bloodshot eyes, filled with pain and obsessive thoughts.
A perfectly standard, even slightly exaggerated and theatrical smile appeared on her face. Her eyes were clear and piercing, but like a frozen lake, they had no warmth whatsoever.
“Gu Qingyan!” Her voice was unusually clear and calm, even deliberately tinged with a hint of impatient lightness, as if his question was superfluous and ridiculous: “Is such an obvious thing necessary to ask? As you can see, of course I am happy.”
She tilted her head slightly, adopting a thoughtful, appraising expression. Her gaze swept meaningfully and disdainfully over Qi Xueqing, who was watching closely from a distance. A sharp, sarcastic smile curled at the corner of her lips. "I see, Mr. Gu, you've got what you wanted. Standing next to Editor-in-Chief Qi, you two are a perfect match, a match made in heaven, so well-suited...it's truly enviable!" She chuckled lightly, a laugh devoid of warmth. "See? Isn't everything unfolding exactly as I predicted? Our separation was the best outcome for both of us. Now we've each found the 'best' place—a place approved of by our families and envied by outsiders. Isn't that a happy ending for everyone?"
She paused, then her tone suddenly hardened, each word like an ice bead hitting the ground, carrying an undisguised order to leave: "So, just mind your own 'happiness,' and don't bother me anymore, you or she, and stop bothering me." Without giving him any time to respond, she abruptly turned away, her high heels clicking crisply and decisively, quickly disappearing into the flow of guests, leaving Gu Qingyan frozen in place.
However, the strength and elegance that Lin Yuwei had maintained all night crumbled as soon as she turned away. Gu Qingyan's words and Qi Xueqing's presence tonight felt like countless needles pricking her heart, causing her a suffocating pain and irritability.
She fled back to the table as if fleeing, as if only the noise and alcohol could temporarily drown out the screams in her heart. She no longer passively responded to the toasts, but took the initiative to pick up the glass and drank it down one glass after another with a kind of desperate self-abandonment, trying to numb all the turbulent emotions with alcohol, to wash away the embarrassment of being forcibly exposed by Gu Qingyan, and the subtle but stubborn wavering deep in her heart that she herself did not want to admit.
Lin Yuwei's smile became even more radiant and dazzling under the influence of alcohol, yet it also became increasingly empty and lifeless. Her eyes gradually lost focus, becoming veiled with a hazy, watery light. Zhou Xubai quickly noticed her abnormality. He gently tried to take her glass and softly advised, "Weiwei, slow down, drinking like this will make you feel unwell."
Lin Yuwei brushed his hand away and murmured, "I'm happy, I'm so happy... Today is our big day, aren't you happy... Drink! Why don't you drink..." As she spoke, she drank another cup in one gulp. Zhou Xubai looked at her drowning her sorrows in alcohol and felt a pang of heartache. He looked up and his gaze briefly met that of Gu Qingyan, who had a gloomy face and whose gaze never left him.
He understood everything! A deep pain flashed across his eyes, but it was ultimately covered by an even deeper tenderness. He stopped trying to dissuade her, and instead held her even tighter, embracing her when her steps faltered, and shielding her from everything.
Qi Xueqing remained calm throughout the entire ordeal. She watched Lin Yuwei's loss of composure, Zhou Xubai's gentle protection, and Gu Qingyan's almost fiery yet tightly suppressed pain. She took a deep breath, driven by a sense of "helping others achieve their goals" and more complex emotions, and walked over to Gu Qingyan's side.
"Did you see that?" Qi Xueqing's voice rang in his ear, with a seductive push: "She's drunk like this because of someone? No matter how good Zhou Xubai is, he can't fill the hole in her heart. Believe me, tonight is your last chance. Don't hesitate any longer, go after her as soon as the party is over."
As the banquet drew to a close, the atmosphere shifted from lively to a slightly tipsy, languid one.
Lin Yuwei was already too drunk to walk properly, her steps unsteady and unsteady. She leaned almost her entire weight on Zhou Xubai, who half-supported and half-carried her. A hint of worry appeared between his gentle brows. He whispered a few words to his parents, asking them to take charge of the aftermath of the event. Then, he put his arm around Lin Yuwei and left the noisy banquet hall ahead of time.
Gu Qingyan, who had been watching Lin Yuwei closely, took in everything. Before Qi Xueqing could remind him, he quickly took out his phone to check the situation and then said apologetically to Qi's parents, "I'm sorry, Uncle and Aunt, there's an urgent matter at the company that needs to be dealt with immediately. I have to excuse myself." His tone was hurried and sincere.
Mr. and Mrs. Qi were feeling very proud of their daughter for bringing such an outstanding male companion tonight, and were immersed in their joy. Upon hearing this, they didn't suspect anything at all. On the contrary, they felt that it was rare for a young person to prioritize their career, and immediately smiled and nodded understandingly: "We understand, we understand. Business is important! Go and get busy!"
Gu Qingyan nodded slightly, stood up without hesitation, and strode away towards the exit, her back view resolute and without the slightest trace of lingering affection.
As Qi Xueqing watched his retreating figure without hesitation, the forced smile on her face, meant to appease her parents, instantly paled, and the light in her eyes dimmed. Silently, she picked up the wine glass beside her, tilted her head back, and took a large gulp. The icy liquid tried to extinguish the bitterness and sorrow surging in her heart. She took a deep breath: If she was destined to be unlucky in love, then please, Lady Luck, at least be a little more kind to her in her career.
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